Pittsburgh PoliceNPR Digital Services RSS Generator 0.94NPR Digital Services RSS Generator 0.94Pittsburgh PoliceMon, 21 Nov 2016 02:46:13 +0000Pittsburgh Policehttp://wesa.fm
Sarah SchneiderPittsburgh Mayor Bill Peduto met with the city’s public safety director, police chief and commander of special deployment Thursday to set a standard operating procedure for de-escalating public protests. Peduto Criticizes Police Handling Of Trump Protests, Says City Needs A Standard Procedurehttp://wesa.fm/post/peduto-criticizes-police-handling-trump-protests-says-city-needs-standard-procedure
73549 as http://wesa.fmThu, 10 Nov 2016 22:07:27 +0000Peduto Criticizes Police Handling Of Trump Protests, Says City Needs A Standard ProcedureLiz Reid The state Supreme Court heard arguments Tuesday in an appeal that could decide whether Pittsburgh police officers have to live in the city. In 2012, the state legislature passed Act 195, which said a municipality may require officers to live in city limits. The previous statute said cities shall have a residency requirement. A year later, Pittsburgh voters passed a referendum requiring residency. The Fraternal Order of Police argued residency falls under the category of “working conditions” and is subject to collective bargaining. “The legislature acted based on the FOP going to the legislature and asking for it to be changed … they changed it to ‘may,’” said FOP attorney Eric Stoltenberg. “They changed it to give us the right to bargain over it, because that’s what we asked them to do.” After the union & the city reached an impasse on the issue, an arbitrator in 2014 said officers should be able to live within 25 miles of downtown Pittsburgh. The city appealed that decision inPA Supreme Court Hears Arguments In Pittsburgh Police Residency Requirement Case http://wesa.fm/post/pa-supreme-court-hears-arguments-pittsburgh-police-residency-requirement-case
73057 as http://wesa.fmTue, 01 Nov 2016 17:42:34 +0000PA Supreme Court Hears Arguments In Pittsburgh Police Residency Requirement Case Associated PressA federal jury will be allowed to decide whether a white Pittsburgh police officer violated the rights of a black man left paralyzed after he was shot during a traffic stop almost four years ago. U.S. Magistrate Judge Maureen Kelly on Monday rejected a motion for summary judgment on the portion of the civil rights lawsuit involving the officer who shot Leon Ford in November 2012. Kelly also allowed the suit to continue against another officer who Ford said tried to drag him out of his car, but threw out claims against a third officer and the city of Pittsburgh. Ford, 23, and his attorneys contend he was wrongly pulled over, purportedly for running a stop sign. A struggle broke out when police mistakenly thought Ford was a wanted gang member with a similar name, and officers tried to pull him out of the car. Police said Ford tried to drive away, dragging Officer David Derbish, who shot Ford multiple times from inside the car. Ford testified that the still-running car got knocked intoJury To Decide Civil Rights Suit Of Man Shot By Officerhttp://wesa.fm/post/jury-decide-civil-rights-suit-man-shot-officer
69846 as http://wesa.fmThu, 18 Aug 2016 19:33:41 +0000Jury To Decide Civil Rights Suit Of Man Shot By OfficerSarah SchneiderBody cameras have a way of rapidly de-escalating situations, according to Chief Jeff Besong, the head of Point Park University's Department of Public Safety. One of his officers recently approached a family in the midst of an argument on the Boulevard of the Allies, and the adult man in the group began swearing at him. As soon as the officer informed the man he was being recorded on a body camera, the profanity ceased, Besong said. “And immediately he started using, ‘Yes sir. I apologize sir. I’m having a bad day. sir,’” Besong said. “And the four children shook our officer’s hand when the situation was over.” Besong called it a clear case on how situations can be neutralized when there is a sense of accountability for both parties. Point Park is the first university in Pennsylvania to mandate its sworn-in officers wear body cameras. Its force of 13 were trained this summer and began wearing the new gear August 1. “I like them," said Lt. Nicholas Black, turning his camera on. "They'rePoint Park Becomes PA's First University Police Force To Don Body Camerashttp://wesa.fm/post/point-park-becomes-pas-first-university-police-force-don-body-cameras
69545 as http://wesa.fmFri, 12 Aug 2016 17:38:35 +0000Point Park Becomes PA's First University Police Force To Don Body CamerasMark Nootbaar Nearly three hours of testimony on the use of police body cameras before a state House committee on Wednesday boiled down to three main issues: when to record, how much to release to the public and how long to retain the files. House Committee Hears Police Body Camera Testimony Prior To Crafting Legislation http://wesa.fm/post/house-committee-hears-police-body-camera-testimony-prior-crafting-legislation
69454 as http://wesa.fmThu, 11 Aug 2016 17:54:01 +0000House Committee Hears Police Body Camera Testimony Prior To Crafting Legislation Virginia Alvino Young Pittsburgh Police Chief Cameron McLay on Monday requested a review of his appearance at the Democratic National Convention. Two entities will investigate to determine if McLay’s appearance violated any city code. Chief McLay Requests Investigation Into His DNC Appearance http://wesa.fm/post/chief-mclay-requests-investigation-his-dnc-appearance
69026 as http://wesa.fmMon, 01 Aug 2016 19:47:59 +0000Chief McLay Requests Investigation Into His DNC Appearance Pittsburgh Police Chief Cameron McLay said he broke no rules by speaking at the Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia Tuesday night, despite backlash from the police union. Police Chief Responds To Criticism After Speaking At DNChttp://wesa.fm/post/police-chief-responds-criticism-after-speaking-dnc
68777 as http://wesa.fmWed, 27 Jul 2016 19:10:52 +0000Police Chief Responds To Criticism After Speaking At DNCVirginia Alvino Young Pittsburgh public safety and emergency response departments are working together to create a new strategy for dealing with large events and natural disasters. The changes were proposed after presumptive Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump’s April rally at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center, during which three people were arrested and four police officers treated for minor injuries. An internal committee spent six weeks reviewing emails between agencies, radio communications, and witness accounts after the event. The after-action report found that some lines were blurred during internal and cross-agency communication. Public Safety Director Wendell Hissrich said a divided system was partly to blame. “What I’ve observed was basically that police would create their own plan, fire create their own plan, EMS create their own plan, then approximately several days before, if we had that time advantage, we would all come together and try to diffuse any contradictions in theTrump Rally To Blame For Emergency Response Revamphttp://wesa.fm/post/trump-rally-blame-emergency-response-revamp
66521 as http://wesa.fmFri, 10 Jun 2016 18:07:03 +0000Trump Rally To Blame For Emergency Response RevampNoah Brode Pittsburgh City Council is set to give final approval Tuesday to a $125,000 settlement in the Jordan Miles case, potentially ending a six-year legal battle between the city and the young black man who accused three white city police officers of attacking him in 2010. There’s been no public discussion of the deal reached between Miles’ attorney, Joel Sansone, and the city Law Department; City Council held a closed-door executive session on the matter before unanimously approving the deal in a committee vote last Wednesday. The preliminary approval paves the way for final passage of a deal that’s about 30 percent less than the $180,000 settlement the city government initially offered in 2011. But the settlement that could be approved Tuesday is also slightly higher than the $119,000 figure that a jury wanted to award Miles following a 2014 federal lawsuit. That jury found Richard Ewing, Michael Saldutte and David Sisak guilty of false arrest, but not guilty of excessive force. SansoneFinal Approval Pending For $125K Settlement In Jordan Miles Casehttp://wesa.fm/post/final-approval-pending-125k-settlement-jordan-miles-case
66374 as http://wesa.fmMon, 06 Jun 2016 20:21:44 +0000Final Approval Pending For $125K Settlement In Jordan Miles CaseAssociated Press A Pittsburgh man's lawyer says his client has accepted a $125,000 settlement more than six years after the man — who is black — says three white police officers wrongfully arrested him and then beat him. Attorney Joel Sansone says his 24-year-old client, Jordan Miles, decided to end the litigation and put the events behind him. Miles wasn't immediately available to comment. City council plans to take up legislation on the proposed settlement on Tuesday. A spokesman for Mayor Bill Peduto says the deal was reached during federal mediation. Miles sued twice in federal court, claiming there was no reason to arrest him and that police used excessive force. A jury found in March 2014 that the officers had lacked probable cause in the arrest. Jordan Miles Takes Proposed $125k Deal In Police Beating, Lawyer Sayshttp://wesa.fm/post/jordan-miles-takes-proposed-125k-deal-police-beating-lawyer-says
65838 as http://wesa.fmTue, 24 May 2016 20:03:49 +0000Jordan Miles Takes Proposed $125k Deal In Police Beating, Lawyer SaysEssential PittsburghA mistrial has been declared in a civil rights lawsuit brought by a Pittsburgh police officer who clerked for the former chief. The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review says U.S. District Judge Joy Flowers Conti granted the mistrial after Officer Tonya Montgomery-Ford said her attorney was too ill to continue. Montgomery-Ford says she was suspended three years ago because she testified before a federal grand jury into alleged corruption by the administration of former Mayor Luke Ravenstahl. We'll discuss the case with Trib reporter Brian Bowling. Mistrial Declared In Former Police Chief Clerk's Civil Rights Casehttp://wesa.fm/post/mistrial-declared-former-police-chief-clerks-civil-rights-case
65337 as http://wesa.fmFri, 13 May 2016 06:00:00 +0000Mistrial Declared In Former Police Chief Clerk's Civil Rights CaseAssociated PressA fired Pittsburgh police sergeant accused of wrongly pushing and punching a drunken man at Heinz Field and then lying about it says he's fighting the criminal case against him. Ex-sergeant Stephen Matakovich has been indicted by a federal grand jury. He's appealing his firing. Defense attorney Blaine Jones said Wednesday they're prepared to fight the case wherever they need to fight it. The police chief and the public safety director agreed to fire the 22-year veteran for using what was deemed to be "unreasonable" force during the arrest in November. The district attorney has refiled charges that Matakovich used excessive force while arresting the man at the WPIAL high school football championships. Those charges are likely to be withdrawn now that Matakovich faces federal civil rights charges. A spokesman for the prosecutor says the federal indictment "is not a surprise." The FBI reviewed the case because security footage doesn't appear to support Matakovich's claim the drunken manFired Pittsburgh Police Sergeant Faces Federal Civil Rights Chargeshttp://wesa.fm/post/fired-pittsburgh-police-sergeant-faces-federal-civil-rights-charges
63655 as http://wesa.fmThu, 07 Apr 2016 09:09:43 +0000Fired Pittsburgh Police Sergeant Faces Federal Civil Rights Charges Pittsburgh Police Chief Cameron McLay can't be with all of his officers, all the time. While they're driving their beat, responding to calls and policing the city, they're on their own. Negative reports, either by the officers or about the officers, are often he-said, she-said cases. But that could be changing. Pittsburgh is one of five cities in Pennsylvania that received federal Department of Justice funding to outfit their officers with body cameras. The small cameras, worn on the officer's uniform, record interactions between police officers and the community. Pittsburgh currently has a pilot program of 25 officers equipped with body cameras. McLay says the technology helps with "obtaining strong video evidence for our work in the court system, and allows us to show what officers engaged in while in situations in the community." In September, the city received $250,000 from the DOJ, which they will match with city funds. Allentown, Carlisle, Johnstown and the Central Bucks'You're Being Recorded': Body Cameras May Be Coming Soon To A City Near Youhttp://wesa.fm/post/youre-being-recorded-body-cameras-may-be-coming-soon-city-near-you
61986 as http://wesa.fmWed, 02 Mar 2016 22:10:44 +0000'You're Being Recorded': Body Cameras May Be Coming Soon To A City Near YouWhile they may not be investigating high-profile crimes like homicide or robbery, Pittsburgh’s anti-graffiti squad provides a valuable resource to the city. Revived in Nov. 2015, the squad recently arrested one of Pittsburgh’s major taggers. To get the scoop on what led up to the arrest, Essential Pittsburgh’s Paul Guggenheimer sat down with graffiti squad detectives Alphonso Sloan and Braden Seese. Tag! You're It! Looking At The Work Of Pittsburgh's Anti-Graffiti Squadhttp://wesa.fm/post/tag-youre-it-looking-work-pittsburghs-anti-graffiti-squad
61050 as http://wesa.fmFri, 12 Feb 2016 07:00:00 +0000Tag! You're It! Looking At The Work Of Pittsburgh's Anti-Graffiti SquadMark Nootbaar Pittsburgh Mayor Bill Peduto is celebrating a ruling by the Pennsylvania Commonwealth Court, which overturned an arbitrator’s decision to allow Pittsburgh police officers to live outside the city. On Appeal, Pittsburgh Police Officers Must Live In The Cityhttp://wesa.fm/post/appeal-pittsburgh-police-officers-must-live-city-0
59401 as http://wesa.fmThu, 07 Jan 2016 19:03:34 +0000On Appeal, Pittsburgh Police Officers Must Live In The CityDeanna GarciaFollowing a call to prayer at the Islamic Center of Pittsburgh Saturday, the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police outlined a five-point plan to help protect the city’s Muslim community. “With increasing Islamophobia in America, it is very important that community leaders and local authorities both collaborate to be as proactive as possible in order to ensure the safety and well-being of the Muslim Community,” said Wasi Mohamed, executive director of the Islamic Center of Pittsburgh. This follows the Thanksgiving Day shooting of a Muslim taxi driver. The victim, whom police have not identified, is recovering at Mercy Hospital and said the man who shot him made remarks about ISIS and poked fun at the Prophet Muhammad. Wasi Mohamed maintains that this was a hate crime, though the incident is still under investigation and authorities have not labeled it as such. It took the police several days to arrest the alleged shooter, which led some in the Muslim community to believe the police weren’t makingPittsburgh Police Share Plan To Build Trust With, Protect City’s Muslim Population http://wesa.fm/post/pittsburgh-police-share-plan-build-trust-protect-city-s-muslim-population
58002 as http://wesa.fmSun, 06 Dec 2015 14:50:17 +0000Pittsburgh Police Share Plan To Build Trust With, Protect City’s Muslim Population Anthony Priore If you're headed out for a night on the South Side, you could find yourself having to pay for parking past 6 p.m. City officials are planning on eventually enforcing parking meters through midnight. They haven't said when the change would take effect, but hope to start enforcing it in the coming months. This comes as part of the new initiative developed by Mayor Bill Peduto, City Council President Bruce Kraus and Nighttime Economy Coordinator Allison Harden to ensure a safer business district on East Carson Street in the South Side. The extra money made from parking revenue will go toward police efforts on the South Side, as well as cleanup and transportation needs. “Being that this is un-sequestered new revenue that has not been allocated, we are going to legislate through council with the assistance of the mayor’s office and his team that the allocation of those funds to be used specifically for policing efforts,” said Kraus. Kraus believes the increase in officers will act as aOfficials Plan To Extend South Side Meter Enforcement As Part Of Pilot Programhttp://wesa.fm/post/officials-plan-extend-south-side-meter-enforcement-part-pilot-program
57060 as http://wesa.fmMon, 16 Nov 2015 23:05:02 +0000Officials Plan To Extend South Side Meter Enforcement As Part Of Pilot ProgramLiz ReidNearly a year after President Barack Obama proposed funding for 50,000 body-worn cameras for police officers nationwide, the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police is getting its share. Wiretap Laws Complicate Deployment Of Body Cameras To Pittsburgh Police Officershttp://wesa.fm/post/wiretap-laws-complicate-deployment-body-cameras-pittsburgh-police-officers
56671 as http://wesa.fmMon, 09 Nov 2015 18:41:36 +0000Wiretap Laws Complicate Deployment Of Body Cameras To Pittsburgh Police OfficersMora McLaughlin Pittsburgh community leaders, educators, pastors and police officers met with students to discuss violence and how it affects growing children at the Community College of Allegheny County's North Side campus on Thursday. The gathering occurred just days after two teens and a third man were arrested in the September homicide of a Carrick High School freshman. Police Chief Cameron McLay asked students how Pittsburgh officers can work with the community in a more productive way. Councilwoman Natalia Rudiak and Pittsburgh Public Schools Superintendent Linda Lane also attended. The group kicked off the National Week of Nonviolence, coordinated locally through #YouthSpeakPgh. “First, I think that our young people need as many opportunities to express themselves as possible. There was a real, real need and an urgency that some of the young people had to be heard,” said Stephanie Myers, an event host and the national co-chair of Black Women For Positive Change. Myers said she sees theBlack Women For Positive Change Kicks Off Nonviolence Week In Pittsburghhttp://wesa.fm/post/black-women-positive-change-kicks-nonviolence-week-pittsburgh
55501 as http://wesa.fmFri, 16 Oct 2015 20:39:50 +0000Black Women For Positive Change Kicks Off Nonviolence Week In PittsburghLiz ReidHigh school senior Logan Tewell said he needs to start working out. The Bedford County 17 year old said he's interested in a career with the Pennsylvania State Police, so Trooper Brian Arrington told him the usual stuff. Keep your grades up, stay out of trouble and keep on the right path. Virginia, D.C. Police Recruiting Pittsburgh Area High Schoolershttp://wesa.fm/post/virginia-dc-police-recruiting-pittsburgh-area-high-schoolers
54392 as http://wesa.fmWed, 23 Sep 2015 20:14:39 +0000Virginia, D.C. Police Recruiting Pittsburgh Area High Schoolers